Seal



jl lly 20, 1937. c DUNGAN 2,087,840

SEAL

Filed Sept. 10, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 6'. fiflhanyan gcmwmm- 5 A U0 meyS MIM- Patented July 20, 1937 UNITED STATES orFicE or of twenty per cent to Herman Schneider, ten

per cent to Harvey A. Neumeister, and thirty per cent to Glen It. Tannahill, all of Nebraska City, Nebr.

Application September 10, 1936, Serial No. 100,204

6 Claims.

This invention appertains to new and useful improvements in seals, and more particularly to a seal especially adapted for sealing and locking doors and other closures.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a seal which is substantially tamperproof and not susceptible of accidental disconnection or the development of defects because of its protected casing and arrangement of parts.

Other important objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the following specification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 represents a side elevational View of of the seal closed.

Figure 2 represents a fragmentary top plan view of the seal in open position.

Figure 3 is an edge elevational view of the seal in open position.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the spring.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the casing before being fastened into position on the seal.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the locking mechanism of the seal.

Figure 7 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view (fragmentary) showing the seal locked.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional View taken substantially on line 88 of Figure 3 (enlarged) showing the mechanism locked.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view also substantially on line 8--8 of Figure 3 showing the mechanism in unlocked position.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like numerals designate like parts, it can be seen that the seal consists of the elongated strip 5 of ductile material having one end portion tapered as at 6 to a blunt point 1 and provided at this end with the reduced portion 8 defining a neck and slightly inwardly of this an opening 9 is provided.

The opposite end portion of the strip 5 is bent upon itself to provide the upper flight a and the lower flight b, with a portion flattened and disposed at right angles to the flights aeb to define a T-head ll] over which the closed end of the casing H can be clinched as at I2 to prevent shifting of the locking mechanism in the case. The case is further formed as shown in Figure 7 with the constricted mouth portion l3 at the opposite end of the casing brought together against the upper and lower flights ab, so that the tapered end portion of the strip can barely be inserted between the flights. To steady the locking mechanism within the casing I I, the upper and lower flights aP-b are provided with struckout lugs [4 which are inclined upwardly and downwardly to bear against the inside of the casing.

The intermediate portions of, the upper and lower flights ab are provided at their longitudinal edges with upwardly and downwardly extending flanges i5l$, respectively. Furthermore, stops H are struck upwardly and downwardly from the upper and lower flights ab, incidentally forming an opening 18 through these flights.

As can be seen in Figures 8 and 9, the upper and lower flights lZ--b' adjacent the T-head Ill are provided with serrated longitudinal edge portions defining the reduced portion l9 and a reduced portion 20 in between which is the shoulder 2i.

Numeral 22 generally refers to the spring structure which consists of the leg members 23 disposed at right angles from the down-turned bight portion 24. .outer ends as at 25 and disposed backwardly to provide outwardly sprung leg portions 2625.

The coiled portions of the spring are adapted to hug the longitudinal edge portions of the flights a,b and primarily to engage the reduced portion 20.

When the seal is to be locked, the reduced end portion 6 with the front end i is inserted into the case between the upper and lower points ab. As the mechanism is in unlocked position, as shown in Figure 9, the down-turned bight portion 2% is bearing against the top flight a, so that the neck portion of the reduced end of the strip can pass beyond the opening l8 through the flights so as to force through the coiled portions of the spring 22 so that the coiled portions engage behind the head and into the neck 8 (see Figure 2). Subsequently, this end portion of strip 5 is pulled outwardly so as to cause the mechanism to lock and the action here is that as .the blunt head of the strip pulls the spring 22 outwardly, the coiled portions 25 snap into the reduced portion 20 of the flights a-b and simultaneously, the down-turned bight portion 24 drops into the opening l8 and at the same time through the opening 9 in the tapered end portion of the strip 5. Thus, the seal is locked.

The casing at its inlet end is of such width as to snugly engage the longitudinal edges of the strip 5 at its widest portion, to preclude the possibility of inserting an instrument of some kind to unfasten the seal.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood These leg portions are coiled at their 1 iii) that numerous changes in the shape, size, and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A seal of the character described comprising a casing open at one end and closed at its opposite end, a two-ply body having a T-head at one end over which the closed end of the casing is clinched, said two-ply body protruding through the opposite end of the casing, one ply of the body being elongated and of ductile material and having a head at its free end adapted to be returned into the casing between the plies, and spring means on the two-ply body for engaging and holding the said head.

2. A seal of the character described comprising a casing open at one end and closed at its opposite end, a two-ply body having a T-head at one end over which the closed end of the casing is clinched, said two-ply body protruding through the opposite end of the casing, one ply of the body being elongated and of ductile material and having a head at its free end adapted to be returned into the casing between the plies, spring means on the two-ply body for engaging and holding the said head, said spring means consisting of a slidable spring on the body having a down-turned portion, said body having an opening vertically therethrough, said head having an opening therein, said head being adapted to engage the spring in unlocked position and to pull the spring in a direction so that the down-turned portion of the spring will engage into the opening of the body and simultaneously into the opening of the head.

3. A seal of the character described comprising a casing open at one end and closed at its opposite end, a two-ply body having a T-head at one end over which the closed end of the casing is clinched, said two-ply body protruding through the opposite end of the casing, one ply of the body being elongated and of ductile material and having a head at its free end adapted to be returned into the casing between the plies, spring means on the two-ply body for engaging and holding the said head, and lug members stamped from the said body and engaging the inside of the casing.

4. A seal of the character described comprising a casing open at one end and closed at its opposite end, a two-play body having a T-head at one end over which the closed end of the casing is clinched, said two-ply body protruding through the opposite end of the casing, one ply of the body being elongated and of ductile material and having a head at its free end adapted to be returned into the casing between the plies, spring means on the two-ply body for engaging and holding the said head, and guide means for the said spring means.

5. A seal of the character described comprising a casing open at one end and closed at its opposite end, a two-ply body having a T-head at one end over which the closed end of the casing is clinched, said two-ply body protruding through the opposite end of the casing, one ply of the body being elongated and of ductile material and having a head at its free end adapted to be returned into the casing between the plies, spring means on the two-ply body for engaging and holding the said head, said spring means being slidable on the body, and stop means and guide means therefor.

6. A seal of the character described comprising a casing open at one end and closed at its opposite end, a two-ply body having a T-head at one end over which the closed end of the casing is clinched, said two-ply body protruding through the opposite end of the casing, one ply or" the body being elongated and of ductile material and having a head at its free end adapted to be returneinto the casing between the plies, and spring means on the two-ply body for engaging and holding the said head, said casing being of a width at its inlet end to snugly receive the widest portion of the two-ply body to prevent an instrument from being inserted into the casing.

CHARLES M. DUNGAN. 

